Best 0% APR Balance Transfer Cards to Wipe Out Debt Interest-Free

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Credit card interest can eat a large part of every payment. A balance transfer credit card pauses that interest for a set time.

We compared the longest 0% intro periods we could verify today, and we did the fee math for you.

Quick answer: The Wells Fargo Reflect Card and the U.S. Bank Shield Visa both offer a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (21 billing cycles at U.S. Bank), with no annual fee, as of September 2026. Both charge a 5% transfer fee ($5 minimum). Wells Fargo gives you 120 days from account opening to transfer; U.S. Bank gives you 60 days.

Updated on September 23, 2026 · Sources: Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank

Key takeaways

A 0% intro APR stops new interest, but most cards charge a balance transfer fee up front.
Both cards here charge 5% of each transfer, with a $5 minimum.
Divide the balance plus the fee by the number of intro months to get your monthly target.
Transfers must be made in a set window after account opening, or the intro rate won’t apply.

Best balance transfer cards at a glance

Card	Best for	Key numbers
Wells Fargo Reflect Card	Longest transfer window	$0 fee · 0% for 21 months · 5% transfer fee
U.S. Bank Shield Visa	Transfer plus small perks	$0 fee · 0% for 21 cycles · 5% transfer fee

Rates and offers as of September 2026, from each issuer’s official page. Regular APRs are in each card’s section below.

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How the balance transfer math works

The fee is added to the amount you move. Here is a simple example with a 5% fee:

Balance moved: $5,000.
Transfer fee: $250 (5% of $5,000).
New balance: $5,250.
Monthly target over 21 months: $250.

Pay about that much each month and the balance is gone before the regular APR starts. Pay only the minimum and a large balance may remain when the intro period ends.

1. Wells Fargo Reflect Card

A no-frills card built around a long intro period. Of the two cards here, it gives you the most time to make the transfer.

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At a glance

Intro APR: 0% for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
Regular APR: 17.74%, 24.24% or 28.49% variable after the intro period.
Transfer fee: 5% of each transfer, $5 minimum.
Transfer window: balance transfers made within 120 days of account opening qualify.
Annual fee: $0.
Extras: up to $600 of cell phone protection, subject to a $25 deductible.

Pros and cons

21 months at 0% on both transfers and new purchases.
A 120-day window gives you time to gather all balances.
Cell phone protection when you pay your phone bill with the card.
No rewards program.
3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not a travel card.
Wells Fargo says you may not get the intro offer if you opened this card in the last 48 months.

How to apply

Apply online with Wells Fargo. Have the account numbers and balances of the cards you want to pay off. Check the terms for any limits on moving debt from other Wells Fargo accounts.

2. U.S. Bank Shield Visa

The old U.S. Bank Visa Platinum page now leads to the U.S. Bank Shield Visa, so that is the card we reviewed. It pairs a long intro period with a few small extras.

At a glance

Intro APR: 0% for 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers.
Regular APR: 17.24%–28.24% variable after that.
Transfer fee: 5% of each transfer amount, $5 minimum.
Transfer window: transfers must be made within 60 days of account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
Extras: 4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked in the U.S. Bank Travel Center; a $20 annual statement credit after 11 consecutive months of purchases; up to $600 of cell phone protection.

Pros and cons

Lower APR floor than the Reflect after the intro period.
Small perks that reward everyday use.
Only 60 days to complete your transfers.
Rewards are limited to travel booked through U.S. Bank.

How to apply

Apply online with U.S. Bank. Request your transfers during the application or right after approval, so you stay inside the 60-day window.

How to choose

Choose the Wells Fargo Reflect if you need time to line up several balances before transferring.
Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa if you can transfer right away and like small travel rewards.
Choose neither if your balance is too large to repay in 21 months. A nonprofit credit counselor may help more.

Check these three things first

Your new credit line may be lower than your balance. Issuers set it after approval.
Most issuers don’t let you move debt between their own cards.
Your fair or rebuilding credit may limit approval. Compare prequalification tools before you apply.

Balance transfer checklist

List every balance, its APR and its lender.
Calculate the fee: balance × 5%.
Divide balance plus fee by the intro months.
Complete transfers inside the issuer’s window.
Keep paying the old card until the transfer posts.
Set autopay for your monthly target, not the minimum.
Stop using the old card for new spending.

How we compared these cards

Sources: only each issuer’s official product and terms pages, checked on September 23, 2026.
Criteria: intro APR length, transfer fee, transfer window, regular APR range and annual fee.
Scope: cards for US residents. We also reviewed the Citi Simplicity and Citi Diamond Preferred, but Citi’s pages did not display rates or intro periods when we checked, so they are not listed.
Independence: no issuer paid for placement; the order reflects the transfer window.

Not financial advice. Rates and terms checked on September 23, 2026 with each provider’s official page; confirm before applying.

FAQ

How do I use a balance transfer calculator?

Enter your balance, the transfer fee and the intro months. The key output is the monthly payment that clears the debt before the intro ends. You can do it by hand: balance plus fee, divided by the number of months.

Is there a balance transfer credit card with no fee?

Some cards run no-fee promotions, but both cards here charge 5% as of September 2026. Compare the fee with the interest you would pay on your current card.

Can I get a balance transfer card with fair credit?

It’s possible, but long 0% offers usually go to applicants with good credit. Check prequalification tools first, so you don’t collect hard inquiries.

What happens when the 0% period ends?

Any remaining balance starts to accrue interest at the card’s regular variable APR. That is why the monthly target matters.

Does a balance transfer hurt my credit score?

The application adds a hard inquiry. Over time, paying the balance down lowers your utilization, which can help your score.

Can I transfer a balance to a card from the same bank?

Usually not. Issuers generally block transfers between their own accounts, so move debt from a different lender.

For the full picture, see our hub Best Credit Cards 2026 (US), the best credit cards of 2026 for every type of spender and the best cash back cards with no annual fee.

Sources

Ieveera SEO is an independent publisher, not a bank or financial advisor; content is for information only and may include paid affiliate links that never affect our rankings — always confirm current rates and terms with the provider.